These are long-lived landscape shrubs that will grow nearly anywhere and lend a heritage look to any garden.

This bush was planted by my grandmother more than 40 years ago.

It still blooms every year.

Most cultivars are weeping shrubs which will top out at 4-6 feet in height. 'Minuet'Weigela is a dwarf growing 2-3 feet tall. 'Midnight Wine' tops out at just 24 inches. Its dark foliage makes it a dramatic container plant.

These are low-maintenance plants which should be enjoyed as such.

Allow them to grow naturally, as shearing will destroy the charm their lax, and somewhat unruly, stems offer to any planting bed.

Now, on to the question at the top of everyone's mind:

How Do You Say It?

Any way you want to.

There is so much disagreement on the correct pronunciation of this word that the argument will likely never be settled.

I say wedge-ella but you may say way-gee-la, if you like. I won't mind.

No matter how you pronounce it, one thing remains true. These are flowering shrubs with heirloom style.

There are large and small-flowered cultivars. The funnel-shaped blossoms of the small-flowered types remind me of 4 o'clock flowers. The larger flowers look more like azalea blooms.

In either case, the white, red or pink flowers are fragrant and appear en masse, nearly masking the medium green, pointed and veined foliage.